Kaoutar
Fruit salad is the perfect summer dessert. Not only because it is easy to prepare, but also because it is healthy and refreshing. Fruits provide us with various vital nutrients for the body, so they are beneficial, and consuming them in this way can be even more fun. Today we explain how to make a fresh fruit salad, plus some tips and tricks to make it even more prosperous.
How To Make A Fruit Salad?
Preparing a homemade fruit salad is very simple. Perhaps the most challenging part is defining which fruits are in a fruit salad. You will find several recipes online and in cooking books and magazines. In our opinion, the best fruits for this healthy dessert are those that are in season. By using fresh, locally sourced, and seasonal fruits, you’ll have more opportunities to make the most of the nutrients in each piece of fruit that you add to your recipe. So what fruits do you use to make fruit salads? Here we propose some combinations according to the season.
Summer: apricots, peaches, grapes, watermelons, blackberries, strawberries, figs, melons, plums, cherries, pears, kiwis, nectarines, meddlers, pineapples, bananas.
Winter: pears, apples, pomegranates, bananas, kiwis, citrus, blueberries, persimmons, plums.
Choose the variety of fruits that you prefer or that look the best when you buy them. For a more attractive result, we suggest you choose pieces of fruit of different colors and textures. Now that you know which fruits to use, what do you need to make a fruit salad? We will tell you right away:
- A knife to remove the skin of some fruits such as citrus, melon, etc.
- A salad bowl.
- A tablespoon.
- A juicer for oranges.
- Honey, agave syrup, or another natural sweetener (optional).
Steps To Prepare A Cut Fruit Salad
- Wash all the fruit well.
- Remove the skin from melon or watermelon if you use them and from fruits such as apples and peaches when they are not organically grown.
- Cut all the fruit into small pieces evenly.
- Collect everything in the bowl.
- Add a tablespoon of sweetener for every half a kilo of cut fruit, stir, and place in the fridge at least an hour before serving.
What if you don’t want to use sugar or sweeteners, aren’t going to serve the fruit salad right away, or want to customize the fruit salad with other ingredients? We answer all frequently asked questions and bring you tips and tricks for an irresistible fruit salad recipe.
How To Make Fruit Salad Without Sugar
Avoiding sugar or other sweeteners in a fruit salad is a logical choice since fruits already contain sugars, and adding more sweeteners even alters the flavor of certain fruits. The use of sugar in this recipe can attenuate the acidity of some ingredients, such as kiwi, and prevents some fruits from darkening due to oxidation. Here are some tricks to avoid the use of sugar or other sweeteners:
- Reduce the number of acidic fruits.
- Add raisins like sultanas or dates.
- Add the bananas, apples, and pears at the last minute to prevent them from browning.
- Prepare a sauce for fruit salad with lemon or orange juice, extra virgin olive oil, and fresh aromatic herbs such as mint, thyme, or basil.
How Long Does Cut Fruit Salad Last?
Ideally, as we have explained, the fruit salad is consumed after a few hours of refrigeration after its preparation. However, you can also keep fruit salad in a covered container in the fridge and consume it the next day. In this case, do not forget to add lemon juice, and if you use banana, apple, or pear, it is better to add them at the last minute to the rest of the fruits. In any case, it is advisable to consume this dessert within 24 hours after preparation since the cut fruits will begin to ferment, and the taste of the fruit salad will no longer be the same.
Tricks To Make Your Fruit Salad Even Richer
- Use seasonal fruits that are fresh and ripe to the point.
- Mix fruits of different colors and textures for a more attractive result.
- Remove the skin from the fruits if they are not organic, and remove the seeds.
- Cut all the fruits into even pieces.
- Use the same amount of each fruit or reduce the amount of sour fruit if you prefer a fruit salad without sugar.
- Prevent the fruits from oxidizing; use orange, lemon, or natural apple juice not to darken or add fruits such as apples, pears, and banana only before serving.
- Add aromatic leaves, ice cream, or yogurt to add a special touch to your cut fruit salad.
